Record number of Birthright groups lands in Israel

JERUSALEM (JTA) — A record number of participants in the Birthright Israel program arrived in Israel on one day.

Some 1,200 participants from 24 Birthright groups in three countries — the United States, Brazil and Argentina — arrived Monday over a two-hour period.

The Birthright program, which provides free 10-day trips to Israel for Jews aged 18 to 26, is entering its 13th year. Nearly 300,000 young Jewish adults from 54 countries have participated in the program. Some 42,000 young Jewish adults are scheduled to visit Israel in 2012.